Sunbath tent



Nov. 24, 1953 M. J. ROCHFORD 2,659,905

SUNBATH TENT Filed July 25, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet l M. J. ROCHFORD sUNBATH TENT Nov. 24, 1953 52 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 25, 1951 @EIS INVENTOR.' ).fac//J Patented Nov. 24, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT `OFFICE Claims.

My invention relates to enclosures for protection of sunbathers, and more particularly to shield them from the annoyance of flies' and other insects, and one object is to provide a tent which affords both a restful base on which the bather may lie and a netted cover over the base as a complete protection against flying insects.

A further object is to design the novel tent with sections designed to afford an easy entrancey into the tent by the occupant and facilities for the joining of the sections after they have been assembled. f

Another object is to provide means inside the tent for maintaining the same in the proper position over the occupant to permit freedom of movement of the body and limbs.

An additional object is to provide means for folding the tent into compact form for transportation by the occupant from place to place.

An important object is to` construct the novel tent with a minimum of parts designed to render its `production economical and its handling easy for the average person.

With the above objects in View, and any others which may suggest themselves from the description to follow, a better understanding of the invention may be had by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. l is a top plan view of the tent, showing the position of the occupant therein;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation;

p Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3V of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the tent base show-` ing certain parts over the same;

Figs.` 5 and 6 are group enlargements of portions in the central region of Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is a magnied view of a fastening unit occurring in Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is a similar view of fastening parts as seen in Fig. 6;

Fig. 9 is a front elevation of the tent as gathered up into folded position; and

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a carrier for handling the folded tent. i

In accordance with the foregoing, specific reference to the drawings indicates the base of the tent as an elongated pad I5 which is preferably made of sponge rubber having smooth external surfaces. The bottom surface of the pad is lined with a sheet I6 of waterproof cloth which is cemented or vulcanized to the `pad I5 and serves as an external protector for the same.

The cover of the tent is shown as formed of sections and 2|, the material thereof being a fabric of fairly close mesh.` Such mesh in fully' size would appear approximately like in Figs. 7 and 8. However, for purposes of clarity, the mesh has been shown much larger in Figs. l, 2, 5 and 6. 'Ihe bottom edges of the cover sections 20 and 2| are reinforced by cord sections I'I and I8 formed like half-loops; and the edge of the base pad is grooved longitudinally to seat the cord sections.

Means are provided inside the tent cover at the center and near the ends to keep the same at a suitable height to accommodate the occupant. The element employed `in the center to keep the tent cover up is a simple arch of band metal, the ends of the arch having inward bends 26 resting on the base pad I5. The latter has secured to it by cement or other suitable means crossstrps 21 into which the arch bends are inserted as shown in Fig. 3 to maintain the arch in position. The cover supporting elements near the ends of the tent are in the form of arches 30 which also have inward terminal bends 3 I. However, these are journaled in keeper plates 32 cemented or otherwise secured to the base pad I5 in order to enable the arches 30 to be folded from the upright positions shown in Fig. l to the inwardly collapsed positions shown in Fig. 4.

The inner ends of the cover sections 20 and 2I are designed to be mounted in overlapped relation over the arch 25. Thus, the foot section 2| is originally mounted on the arch and carries a fabric tape 35 for reinforcing purposes, such tape being tautly stretched over the arch. The head section 20 of the cover also carriesa reinforcing tape 36 Which is designed to overlap the tape 35 to a partial extent when the cover sections are tol be assembled. In such event, hooks 3l carried by the tape 36 are designed to engage eyes 38 carried by the tape 35 at a number of places along the course of the arch to join the sections of the cover firmly. i Since the tape 36 is flexible, the occupant of the tent will have no diiflculty manipulating the hooks,` which are shown extended in Fig. 7 to hook into the eyes 38. Preferably, the hooks and eyes are carried by discs 40 of cloth stitched to the material of the cover; and the bases of the hooks are preferably ring-shaped and suitably stitched as indicated at II in Fig. 'l to the related discs I. In addition, the cord section I'I carries bottom hooks 45 designed to engage similarly located eyes 46 of the cord section I8 to insure the closing of the cover sections at the bottom.

The end arches 30 are designed to be maintained in upright position by cords 50 which extend from the arches toward the center of ther in holes 52 made in the center arch 25. The cords 50 are drawn taut by springs 55 which extend outwardly from the arches to terminate with hooks 56 which engage in keepers 51 carried by the base pad l5. The cords carry metallic finger-hold rings 58 for facility in engaging the hooks 5I.

Additional means are provided to lend comfort to the occupant of the tent. Thus, 60 represents a pad designed to support the neck as shown in Fig. 2, such pad carrying the head portions of snap fasteners 6I. The pad carries the base portions 62 of the snap fasteners in a longitudinal series, so that the pad 60 may be adjusted forwardly or rearwardly according to the height of the occupant. A similar but narrower pad 65 is provided for supporting the ankles and carries the head portions 66 of snap fasteners, these cooperating with any pair of base portions 61, as in the previous instance, to adjust the position of the pad in relation to those of the occupants ankles.

It is obvious that one occupying the novel tent as described above will secure the comfort of a cot or bed and exposure to the sun without annoyance from iiies, mosquitoes or other flying insects. When the use of the tent is no longer required, it may be unhooked at the center by the occupant to release the head section 20 of the cover and permit the occupant to slide such section back and leave the tent. In order to collapse the same, the cords 50 are rst unhooked from the center arch 25; and the springs 55 are then unhooked from the keepers 51 to permit the arches 3|) to be folded inwardly upon the base pad l5. The ends of the latter may now be picked up and gathered to assume semi-circular form and join at the top as shown in Fig. 9. The ends of the pad carry securing means 10 which now occur close to each other; and a device is provided for engaging these securing means to keep the tent in the gathered or collapsed position.

The device just mentioned is shown more clearly in Fig. 10 and is a scissor-shaped handle 1|. The lower portions of the handle are in the form of hooks 12 which engage the securing means 10 to keep the same gathered. The handle 1| is formed with long slots 13 in its upper portions, for the passage of the hand carrying the handle 1I; and a link'14 connects the upper portions of the handle after it has been applied as stated in order to lock them into position. The tent thus assumes the appearance indicated in Fig. 9 and may be carried about from place to place with facility.

It is apparent that the novel tent is an article which provides both comfort for the occupant when lying on a beach or lawn and complete protection against contact or approach by ying insects. The tent has firm elements on the inside which keep its cover in the raised position during use; yet, the cover is sectional in order to facilitate the easy entrance and exit of the occupant and handling of the fastening elements from the inside. Further, means are provided for head and foot comfort inside the tent; and its base is flexible and favorable to assuming the position of a hand grip or valise when gathered up into folded position, so that the tent becomes an article of a compact form; and further means are provided for keeping the tent folded and facilitating its transportation by hand from place to place. Finally, the materials entering into the construction of the tent are of a a simple and easily l from separation, said means being extended to 4; available nature, making it possible to manufacture the same at reasonable cost.

While' I have described the invention along specific lines, various minor changes or re-lnements may be made therein without departing from its principle, and I reserve the right to employ all such changes and refinements as may come within the scope and spirit of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A sunbath tent comprising a base pad elongated to accommodate a person in the lying position, a cover of netted fabric surmounting the base pad and secured at the bottom to the edge of the same, and means to maintain the cover in a position sufficiently raised to freely accommodate the person, said means comprising a crossarch in the center of the tent, a pair of crossarches near the ends thereof, the latter crossarches being pivotally mounted upon said base pad to swing from upright positions downwardly upon the base pad, cords extending from the latter arches and terminating with hooks engageable with the center arch, and springs extending outwardly from said latter arches and terminating with hooks engageable with the end portions of said pad to draw said cords into taut condition.

2. A sunbath tent comprising a base pad elongated to accommodate a person in the lying position, a cover of netted fabric surmounting the base pad and secured at the bottom to the edge of the same, and means to maintain the cover in a position suiciently raised to freely accommodate the person, said means comprising a crossarch in the center of the tent, a pair of crossarches near the ends thereof, the latter crossarches being pivotally mounted upon said base pad to swing from upright positions downwardly upon the base pad, said base pad being of a flexible cushion material adapted to be rolled up at the ends with the central and folded crossarches on the inside until said ends meet, and means to secure the meeting ends of the pad from separation.

3. A sunbath tent comprising a base pad elongated to accommodate a person in the lying position, a cover of netted fabric surmounting the base pad and secured at the bottom to the edge of the same, and means to maintain the cover in a position suiciently raised to freely accommodate the person, said means comprising a crossarch in the center of the tent, a pair of crossarches near the ends thereof, the latter crossarches being pivotally mounted upon said base pad to swing from upright positions downwardly upon the base pad, said base pad being of a flexible cushion material adapted to be rolled up at the ends with the central and folded crossarches on the inside until said ends meet, and means to secure the meeting ends of the pad form a handle.

4. A sunbath tent comprising a base pad elongated to accommodate a person in the lying position, a cover of netted fabric surmounting the base pad and secured at the bottom to the edge of the same, andmeans to maintain the cover in a position sufficiently raised to freely accommodate the person, said means comprising a crossarch in the center of the tent, a pair of crossarches near the ends thereof, the latter crossarches being pivotally mounted upon said base pad to swing from upright positions downwardly upon the base pad, said base pad being of a flexible cushion material adapted to be rolled up at the ends with the central `and folded crossarches on the inside until said ends meet, securing means carried by the ends of the pad and occurring in opposed relation at the meeting points of said ends, and a handle applicable over said securing means and having hooks to engage the same and lock them against separation.

5. A sunbath tent comprising a base pad elongated to accommodate a person in the lying position, a cover of netted fabric surmounting the 1 base pad and secured at the bottom to the edge .of the same, and means to maintain the cover occurring in opposed relation at the meeting points of said ends, a handle applicable over said securing means and having hooks to engage the same and lock them against separation, said handle being scissor-shaped with the hooks at its inner end, and a link applicable to the outei` end of the handle to keep the same in fixed position when said hooks are in engagement with said receptacles.

MICHAEL J. ROCHFORD.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 452,971 Kidder May 26, 1891 1,892,378 Bernstein Dec. 27, 1932 2,055,044 Nelson Sept. 22, 1936 2,191,024 Matheny Feb. 20, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 423,854 France Apr. 28, 1911 

